Fisher's mother Reynolds has spoken for the first time about her daughter's health issues, saying that she is recovering well.

"She's had manic depression bipolar since she was 13," she told People. "It's an illness, and she's doing much better.

"I'm very proud of her, and she's doing exceptionally well. She'll be just fine, just great, and continue her writing as she always does."

The 80-year-old actress gave a lecture about mental illness at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California, on Wednesday (February 27).

She said: "[It's] really dreadful, and you are so alone because you're criticized, and people think you're doing it on purpose, and that you're misbehaving or having a spell because you want attention. It's not true. It's extremely difficult for everyone to deal with."

Carrie Fisher has spoken openly about her struggles with bipolar disorder in the past, having admitted that she occasionally undergoes electroshock therapy to treat the illness.